Avatars – a potted history

Rare have some of the most disgusting concept art in the industry.

Ha, some of those are crazy.

Crazy as in, ‘thank god they didn’t make it out of the concept stages’?

Well yeah, obviously. There’s no way they would have worked.

Nah they would have worked, but they would have been a sight worse than the current Avatars.

Christ, I can’t believe Microsoft hasn’t shook Rare up. That stuff just isn’t fashionable. It makes me think of stuff I used to draw when I was like 11. Or stuff Neil Buchannon does on Art Attack. He was never a good artist.

Really? I can’t see how you’d have been able to provide effective customisation options for a bunch of them.

Anyway, the Rare shakeup is ongoing… that’s why they have a new head of business development (Shintaro Kanaoya).

That’s true, but it’s taken ages… And I think it’s more a problem of creative stagnation.

good times when art design was one of the very few things Rare couldn’t do right

“I can’t see how you’d have been able to provide effective customisation options for a bunch of them.”

That’s why they’re called “concept” art.

“good times when art design was one of the very few things Rare couldn’t do right”

When has Rare ever been bad as art design? They’re one of the strongest and most visually creative designers in the gaming industry.

I would tend to disagree. I find their art outdated and tiresome.

But that’s just my opinion. And we all know about those, right?

That said… I sort of like the Avatars.

“I would tend to disagree. I find their art outdated and tiresome.”

There’s certainly nowhere near as old and tiresome as space marines in giant suits of metal armour, angst ridden teenagers with spiky hair, or bearded vigilantes with a gravely voice and a tragic, gory back story.

If not looking like reality is “out-dated and tiresome”, then thank fuck that they’re out-dated.

“That’s why they’re called “concept” art.”

Did I say any differently?

“Did I say any differently?”

You’re missing the point. The whole issue of them being functionally customisably wouldn’t have even been an issue in the concept phase – concepts nearly always start dramatically, with the fat being trimmed away slowly before they become reality.

Actually, I take that back – I find their character art outdated and tiresome. Some of their world-art in Banjo, etc. was really very attractive.